Spain defeated France in Seville to add their first UEFA Women's Nations League title to the FIFA Women's World Cup they won in August.
important moment
26 minutes: Irene Paredes' head is just wide.
32 minutes: Aitana Bommatti scores the first goal
45+2': Laia Aleychandri approaches.
53 minutes: Mariona Caldenti doubles lead in Spain
Match overview: Spain's highest peak
Salma Pararuelo was a threat from the start of Spain's 3-0 semi-final win over the Netherlands in Sevilla on Friday, but his shot was blocked by Amandine Henry in the eighth minute and he fired in Pauline Peyrault-Magnin from distance. Once again, he proved his threat. As Spain continued to dominate, Irene Paredes headed wide and Aitana Bommatti ran in to Olga Carmona's low center and scored to make it 1-0.
France started the second period well, with Laia Aleixandri going close to scoring from a Spanish corner kick just before half-time, but soon Ona Batre scored twice with Mariona Caldenti scoring from inside the penalty area. It became -0. Peiraud-Magnan then had to be alert to stop Paraluello's run.
France still wanted to test Spain, with Elisa de Almeida firing a volley wide of the target. However, with Spain confirmed as champions, no shots were allowed on target in the final.
Best Player: Aitana Bommatti (Spain)
Alexandra Johnson, La Cartuja de Sevilla match reporter
This Spanish team can't stop making history by becoming the first Nations League champions, defeating France for the first time in their history. There was no doubt about the result. It was all Spain from start to finish, with France limited to just a few half-chances.
La Roja were in control for most of the 90 minutes. Like the Netherlands in the semi-finals, France could not find an answer. There's a reason Spain are considered the best in the world and tonight they showed it once again.
Finalist: Aitana Bommatti (Spain)
reaction
Mariona Caldenti, Spanish goalscorer: “We've never beaten them before, but it's been a while since we last played and we've improved a lot. We wanted to beat them and we have a lot of confidence in ourselves. “Things are going well and we have to. “We take advantage of the fact that this team doesn't stop and doesn't want to stop. This gives us the ability to continue at individual level, club level and national team level. We want more and for as long as possible.” [this period of success] Better.
“From now on, we're just going to enjoy this little by little. We know how difficult it is because the guys who go to the Olympics have earned that qualification. It's going to be difficult, but we're going to try every game. We want to win and that's our goal.'' “
Jenni Hermoso, Spain national team forward: “We work hard. We have a lot of training sessions. We also have to live up to being world champions. It sounds great, but at the same time it's a responsibility. Players We know that we must do our best in every game to defend this emblem and our status as world champions. Today, we are once again able to celebrate this emblem and our status as world champions, but it is well deserved. I think that's true.
“We were really happy that so many fans came to the semi-finals, but today was even more so. For us, it was great to be able to win the trophy here in front of our fans and feel their support. I'm very happy and I think it's even better.''More than that, this proves that women's football is the future. ”
Montse Tomé, Spain coach: “We would like to thank the entire coaching staff for the performance that our girls showed on the pitch and for all the work we have done in the last 10 days since we started with this national team. is very happy. From now on, the players must celebrate, be happy and enjoy the work they have put in.
“We have a very good present and a very good future. Their players just won the World Cup and now they won the World Cup and beat France. What we have won so far He was an incredible opponent.”
Hervé Renard (France) coach: “We didn't play well against a team that is world champions and a team that is making strides in women's soccer. We have to be aggressive and keep the ball when we get it. , I immediately lost again.”
“In the last 30 minutes we tried to be a little higher up the pitch and put more pressure on, but it's difficult when these players have the ball. They make very few technical mistakes. The technical level is extraordinary. When I coached Morocco, we were lucky enough to play against Spain in the 2018 World Cup with a midfield of Iniesta, Isco and Busquets. I got the impression that we were looking at the same thing.”
Grace Gayolo, France national team midfielder: “They played to their strengths, but we didn't play as well as we should have. We couldn't win duels, but that's because they put pressure on us. Body.”
Key statistics
- Spain had never played in a senior women's international final until August's World Cup, which they also won.
- Spain defeated France for the first time in 14 meetings (previously 10 losses and 3 draws).
- France reached the senior women's international final for the first time.
- Kata Coll, Ona Batre, Irene Paredes, Laia Codina, Olga Carmona, Aitana Bommati, Geni Hermoso, Salma Paralerullo and Mariona Cardente also started for Spain in the World Cup final against England in August. Oihane Hernández also came on as a substitute in that match.
- Amandine Henry has won his 100th cap for France.
- Vicky López became the youngest senior international player in Spain's history in the semi-finals, coming off the bench.
- The crowd of 32,657 was a record for a Spanish home women's team, breaking the record set in Friday's semi-final, also played at La Cartuja de Sevilla.
lineup
Spain: Katakol; Battle, Paredes, Codina, Olga (Oihane 68).Bonmati, Aleychandri, Hermoso (Vicky López 85); Atenea (Eva Navarro 72), Pararuelo, Cardentei
France: Peyrault-Manin. De Almeida, Lacler, Mbok Bashi, Karchaoui. Henry (Dali 58), Geiro. Diani (Dufour 76), Le Sommer, Basha (Majili 76). Katoto (D Cascarino 58)
Third place match: Germany qualifies for the Olympics
Netherlands 0-2 Germany
Second-half goals from Clara Bühl and Lea Schuler gave Germany victory in Heerenveen, clinching the bronze medal and a third place in Europe's Olympic women's football competition alongside Spain and hosts France. obtained. Germany previously won gold in 2016 (but failed to qualify to defend the title in 2021) and bronze in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
So far, defending champions Canada, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, and New Zealand have also qualified, as have four-time champions the United States, and two teams from Africa will be decided in April. I plan to.
Matches will be played in Bordeaux, Decines, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Paris (Parc des Princes in the final) and Saint-Étienne.